And welcome to my first ever trip report on airliners.net. I have long followed the Trip Report section – it’s a thorough and interesting incite to the varying world of aviation out there.

It has taken so long to finally get my arse in gear to do this – various commitments and hangovers have come about, not to mention I get pretty baffled by the picture embedding and posting method on this site. Regardless – I am here now, and am about to tell you the tale of my little trip down to London to visit Oceanography 2010 at Excel. I’ll not bother separating the parts but suffice to say it will follow a rough format of;

• Cityjet Do328 DND-LCY• A few of London – a city we’re all familiar with but continues to beguile me
• British Airways LHR – GLA

Background

In a break from my usual pattern of one legacy carrier per year ( normally in the summer when I will go off gallivanting the world), the opportunity arose to fly down in plusher surroundings ( the rest of my year is spend jostling for emergency exits and visiting obscure airports care of the wonderful world of FR).

I study Marine and Coastal resource management at Aberdeen – a bundle of laughs – and myself and two other course mates were heading down for the Oceanography conference. I work in the conference centre in Aberdeen as a lowly bar manager so am used to seeing all these stuffy conference meetings where most people look utterly bored and the networking is tedious. Still – it was a novelty and I was very excited.

My options for travelling down were wide and varied. We were getting subsidised travel so it was train or plane. Aberdeen options were a little limited and I had always wanted to sample DND airport. A misnomer of a place, it’s got very few services, an enticingly short runway and is pretty charming. Cityjet booking was simple – I did it through AF website as friend has blue card? Options for return – costs were higher to fly direct to ABZ, and not being in any rush to get up North out of civilisation, BA was quickly booked.

Both websites excellent, for each nice little reminders were sent and I checked into AF the night before with ease (albeit not with a D328 seat plan).

A Perfect day for flying

A little groggy from a few Macallans the night before, I awoke at 06.30. I hadn’t packed but threw everything into my trusty old travel bag. A little mad dash along the cracked and frosty pavements of Aberdeen and arrived at the bus station at around 07.12. The Citylink bus leaves at 07.15 down to Glasgow taking a little over 3 hours depending on how audacious the driver is. The service is superb – perhaps only a £3 for the journey, a comfortable ride that tends to overtake most dawdling 65mph cars. Being based in the central belt – it’s a service I use alot. Today we go as far as Dundee (an hour) and the sun rises over a still North Sea and the clear blue sky brightens.

Arriving into Dundee – affectionately known as ‘Scumdee’

We hop on a local bus for the couple of mile hop along the front of Dundee. The Tay flows gently past before shorting joining the big bad sea. The bus service is superb and drops you right outside departures after 10 minutes. Most of the airport workers are on the bus and as we enter the terminal they set to their various jobs – my favourite beings brewing the coffee.

Only a little less mightier than the Amazon – the mighty Tay River (Tay Railway Bridge seen)

The terminal is just brilliant. I am struggling for good words to describe it – quaint and dinky are ones that come to mind. It’s the couple of checkin desks, a little seating area for a cafe and a secret little doorway off to security. My course mates seem a little vexed at how small it is too...

Being very early we head off for a 15 minute stroll to the Tay. You have to walk round the perimeter fence, but with the runway not being particularly long, it’s a good little stroll. Once there we enjoy the weak sun. As a little ritual (no concerns about Scottish alcoholism please) before flying I tend to take a few cans of a tipple along before flying. You’ll see this pattern reoccurring – it relaxes me and makes the event of flying a little bit more of an occasion. The selected brew today is some Magners, chilled in the freezer this morning. I sip away happily in the sun even though my fingers are freezing.

We’re in luck as the only largish private jet pulls out onto the runway before the engines scream up and she powers off heavily down the small runway leaving a dark trail of aviation fumes. A great site. Which plane is this? I’m not a plane spotting pro... and have only a fleeting interest in registrations!

Entering DND’s active runway

Labouring into the air with a trail of jet fumes

We head back to the terminal where taxis have gathered akin to vultures for the morning arrival.

Taxis at the front of DND

Check-in desks at DND

The seating area and cafe with coffee on brew

The friendly check-in agent gives us our selected seat and my bag disappears away – unlike LHR this won’t go off on a mysterious journey through the bowels of an airport, and instead goes to the security area through the door.

Door towards departure area

I follow my bag and enter the door where the cheery security staff perform their duties admirably. In my haste to empty my pockets (and being currently with caste after a broken scaphoid), I rip off my jeans pocket. This causes some amusement. I have to check myself, and a small confirmation with my buddy once through confirms, the security agent asked me if I had a laptop or belt four times. Quite funny.

The departure lounge is yet again cool. One has FlyBe and the other Cityjet. The toilets are clean and most importantly the area is equipped with a water fountain (an absolute essential for me – to not have it is to capitalise on thirsty passengers who have to use those ridiculous vending machines). Umbrellas adorn the doors out onto the tarmac for the Scottish rains...

Cityjet side of departure lounge – not the water fountain

Flybe A/C

Flybe waiting area

About 15 minutes before departure time, the bumblebee buzz of the Dornier is heard, and she parks up. The metal door unfolds like an alien ship door and she deposits her load of snooty looking businessmen.
The Do328 pulls in

Another smiling face as the door is thrust open and the aircraft noises flood the departure lounge. Boarding is leisurely with just 14 people today. At the door of the plane the prim FA greets us and indicates where our seats are. This FA captures my attention – she has a nice London accent, and is a bit of a blonde. But she never thaws – there is an intangible coldness about her – albeit that she is always polite and helpful. Just not endearing which is a great shame. Doors are closed and we head off 5 minutes late. On the 2 minute taxi to active runway Miss Prim brings around nice little Fox sweeties.

Boarding the nice stairs

Brakes are applied and the Dornier roars up to full power for a good five seconds. It’s brilliant! I hardly ever experience this and it was very decent. It catapults down the little runway and is airborne within seconds. Rising up into the clear air was like taking a gulf of fresh clean air; all the landscape unfolded below, revealing the topography of the rolling Fife farmland. It’s such a relief after being on the ground for so long. Like when you zoom out of Google earth and suddenly get your bearings. We have limited announcements from the flight crew – all friendly when they do though. We head west before tacking south over EDI and the Firth of Fourth and over the snowy landscape.

Turning onto DND’s active. Quite a few Cessna’s about doing practises this morning

Sorry for the dirty window. The Tay shortly after take off – it narrows before reaching Perth

Blondie unlocks the catering trolley and heads up the aisle. She distributes cheese and ham sandwiches. I am a little disappointed that she has run out of them by the time she gets to me and I am banished to a world of “just cheese I’m afraid”. I take a gin and tonic with extra ice with this. It’s really the only drink for flying...

Tasty cheese and tomato baguette – and a G&T

I select a little Toto for this followed by Jefferson Airplane (no irony intended)

Taking stock of the plane.. Well it’s small. It’s unique. Airbuseric provided a great account of the layout and feel of the plane so I’ll not indulge too much. Suffice to say I was very comfortable in Seat A, plenty of room. The Do328 shows her age and experience of shuttling people of LCY as all the luggage racks have taken a good battering. The toilet, though clean, is an old layout. It feels retro. But none of this is negative, and instead adds to the experience.

Midflight

More than adequate for short sector

Meanwhile Cruella makes her second drinks round. A little disappointed to find no more gin so I swap onto Skyy Vodka. I make a futile attempt to thaw this iceberg in a dress with a little query about Meredith Suckling. She answers curtly enough but it doesn’t go much further than that. She advises me on the best place to sit for the descent and informs me that after this run, she is off today. I wonder what recreational activities she’ll do to bring that hard earned smile across her face. Who knows?

The author with cast – to avoid being shrouded in secrecy

It’s a little convoluted; this is Air France’s..... Cityjet.... Operated by Scot Airways. A funny little arrangement. It is nice and unique to fly with them.

Soon we’re over clouds and Deborah Meaden brings me a final whisky for descent which is nice. She suggests the right side might be better for views...

Seat swap

Clouds over England

Turning into the cloud above London

Now the piece de la resistance. The descent into LCY. An airport which has long captured my imagination and it would appear many others too... We come in over the bend in the Thames, lower and steeply past Canary Wharf which looks a little 2D from this angle, white fills the window and the 02 Domes zooms past and finally we make a nice gentle touchdown into LCY. We’re pushed forward by the dramatic braking and backtrack towards departures.

A genuine smile cracks as we leave the plane – the days work is over. I notice what I believe to be the BA A318. Our bags are almost instantly on the belt. Superb. We hop on the conveniently located DLR. What a superb service it is... I have a chuckle with a platform attendant after leaving my bags for a fleeting 5 seconds on the platform.

An A318 or Embrear?

Disembarking

She’s trying to put on a serious chubby face as she asks me
“Where are we?”“What should you not do?”
She is paternal in saying “you should know better lovey!”

DLR@LCYOnce on the Jubilee line the whisky and ungodly start take their toll as I drift asleep and wake up at the last station

Finally I’m there after the snooze

Conclusions

The ultimate star in the journey is DND. A superb, individual and relaxed airport – it is a pure pleasure to fly through here and harks back to those missed days of relaxed and quiet air travel. The staff are an asset and it nice not to have to go through some BAA shopping mall. Infact... I don’t think I saw any shops at all there airside. Perhaps I was mistaken. The Dornier and Runway where also great fun. Despite the cool FA (Who despite my moans wasn’t all that bad) Cityjet was a superb airline with great service. Everything was on time; it was a great service and tasty food and was an overall pleasure to fly with. I might as well do some quantifiable scoring – a little crude I know but WOI’s boggle my mind;

London is as usual excellent. I stay in a flat in leafy West Hampstead and use the bus most of the time as its alot better for seeing nice little details about town.

On the buses – the perfect way to observe the intricacies of London

Routemaster taken from Routemaster

Evening commuter rush on London Bridge

Blurred traffic in tunnel

We have a boozy night and arrive jaded at Excel. A superb facility – truly a world leader in redevelopment of brownfield sites and nice to see planes glide past into LCY.

In descent to LCY – I enjoyed a tour of this Naval ship Cattistock

Docklands

The conference is superb with plenty of jowly companies to network with. I am ever so pleased at the end of a busy day to find a Cameroon lady at a stand with a bar who pours Macallan 10 Yrs like it where water and talk to potential future employers.

Keeping up appearances with the most generously poured Macallan this side of the border

I briefly stop opposite LCY for some views. It’s a great spot... I realise my ignorance when all the spotters are furiously scribbling down details off each bird. For me I enjoy the sounds and sites.

I really enjoy the reflections across from LCY

Victoria

Apologies for all B&W - as usual London still continues to delight me and it really feels like the big smoke coming from Scotland... One striking thing is Londoners. Initially I thought that it was the rudest city ever ( coming from Glasgow where the people are super friendly). However I soon learnt with London that these are easily broken people... and a quick smile and politeness is all it takes to break the stigma

Our flight leaves LHR at 0700ish the next morning. We elect just to sleep at LHR. My friend is a little tired so goes early, but I delight in taking the last underground to T5 and arrive at around 1am.

Reading the Tube notice – I love the exactness and language used in this. For exactly 23 minutes... it is so detailed and examines all scenarios

I find Terminal 5 a marvel. I feel it’s highly underrated too.... I mean – the architecture. The colossal size and flowing architecture. The look and elegant feel. The flowing lines and exposed infrastructure. It’s quiet when I arrive... eerily quiet. Which I guess is quite social compared to the thousands that mill around the likes of DXB at this time in the morning. I locate my friend close to the enormous E sign. I gently put my stuff down and go off and explore. I go outside and enjoy the tent-like awnings of the drop off area. I admire the drizzle in the air. I visit the lavvies. Again – its immaculate and very well set out with excellent facilities. Dyson are the saviours of the handryer world... I notice with a smile of delight the water fountains... at two levels!

Nice loo’s

Essential fountains!

FIDS

The empty expanse

From my bed

The awning – at this time it feels like the calm before the storm

Self Check-in

I am fascinated by the size and exposure of the towering beams that support the superstructure and try to capture. A BAA employee who had obviously been watching slyly from a distance quickly waddles over and accosts me politely in a cockney accent...
“Scooze me sah, yool ‘ayv to delete those their photos – no photos ov the infrastructure”I oblige but question the protocol for this claiming I though photos were permitted in public spaces
He softens noticeably “This here is BAA private property.”Perusing the obvious he justifies that he knows I am not a terrorist but mentions that only 2 weeks ago they stopped some guys taking photos, who objected and caused a scene. Once arrested they were found to be on a watch list.
Good to see they keep things monitored.

I lay out a sheet and bed down for four hours. Its cool but I sleep not too badly. I’m pretty adept to sleeping in airports and contribute where-ever possible to sleepinginairports.com......

Zzzz
Zz
Z

....The cold sound of my phone vibrating against slate brings me back to the world of the conscious. I pick my heavy body up and make my way outside into the drizzle off the drop-off point to wake up. I’m a people watcher by nature, so it’s a job to watch the interesting, busy people being dropped off by their various friends and drivers. London to me exudes wealth – and I love to watch it flitting by.

At the check-in points a very, very friendly Londoner BA gentleman helps us to check-in. They are always hovering around to aide you through the process – almost brooding over the process. I snatch the last window seat. He see’s this and advises we check-in online to guarantee seats next time. The fast bag drop isn’t supersonic but it friendly enough and the agent sweetly swaps my thermal paper for a card BP. BA has a plethora of various desks spread out for all your worldly needs. Of particular attention to me is a group of pretty college girls (I’m only 21 so this is Ok!) – Being helped, organised and charmed by an old BA soak – He is broad London, camp as a row of pink tents and does his job superbly. He sets about the group like an interior designer. I also notice various Paralympics teams checking in...

Security causes yet another crease of a smile. All points are open and buzzing with personnel and I chat amicably with a local female as we breeze through in no less than two minutes. Exceptional. I do have a little issue with a BAA security middle-aged woman who has a little attitude problem. They have this system whereby you don’t remove your tray at T5 which causes confusion. She does the explosives test on my contact lenses solution and happy enough I’m not in cahoots with the Taliban permits me forward. Despite the tender hour, all the BA staff are so utterly friendly and enthusiastic. It seems totally juxtaposed to the occasional reports of poor customer service and bad attitude that so often get flagged up.

Through security

Ready for another days flying

Airside is no less exceptional at T5 and is TEEMING with people connections and heading off to a myriad of exciting places – everyone’s got their reasons for travelling. My temptation to explore one family's is too much when I hear their OZ accents... They’ve just come in on the early kangaroo routes on the A380 and are connecting to Germany. Other connection Ozzies are on the Glasgow flight too...

Despite the number of shops – it doesn’t feel too shopping mall like and alot of nice restaurants are on show. Wagamama a firm favourite. I head to the gate where alot of boarding is going on. The GLA holding area is full and I am in no rush and watch as it begins boarding.

Four super friendly gate agents are on hand this morning and one tears my boarding card apart with a huge grin to comfort me onto the flight.

Our plane?

I’m onboard 15 minutes before departure time. Greeted by an interesting clutch of crew this morning. Three middle aged females – all looking superb, smiling as they welcome you. The misnomer is a huffy looking male. He looks like a surfer dude with shaggy bleached hair. It’s an unusual one but he does his job equally admirably. This cabin crew exude professionalism, experience and knowledge of the job. Its all inherently British – its all very BA – and somehow the swelling voices of The Flower Duet rings sweetly at the back of my mind. The cabin is cosy and the A320 isn’t too shabby at all. I am right at the back – A again.

The chirpy flight deck breaks the chatting in the cabin. There will be a 10 minute delay in updating some new navigation software. He considerately reminds us “This is for your continuing safety ladies and gentleman”. True to his words we gently pushback soon and taxi all the way to the active. I have no clue which one it is ... Perhaps 27L? It’s a quick takeoff roll into the cloudy skies. The beautiful FA’s spring into action and soon are wheeling down the trolley and distributing little trays. This is EXACTLY what you need in the morning! And is a great selling point on these flights... Served roasting hot.

Take-off roll

5B/C

A lorra BA metal

The beauty that is T5

I taste it... and am taken aback by how absolutely delicious it is. The omelette is fluffy and well seasoned. The vine tomatoes (which I never normally eat) are seasoned and juicy, the bacon thick and cured and the sausage like one you’d get out a little country butcher. I was so impressed and my stomach was equally satisfied. Coffee and tea soon followed

The wonderful brekkie – perfect for this time in the morning

Once finished I pinged the call-bell. Within about 30 seconds the pretty blonde FA who wore a very attractive shawl was beaming down at me.
I put on my sweetest smile “if there are any spare breakfasts – I would love one!”
“’I’ll go and check sir”. She offers my friend one too who hesitates.
With humour she says “Come on sir! We’ll be landing soon....!”

And so too more trays arrive with the roasting breakfast. A second serving of caffeine is poured into the Royal Dolton ceramic cups. It’s a bewildering service on this early morning flight... each FA is flat out. We polish up as the FD announces the beginning of our descent. In a turn up for the books the sky is perfectly clear above Scotland. Another perfect day!

I soon get my bearings as we curve around Glasgow over the hills and GLA comes clearly into view. We flit over Bearsden and are on final approach. I gauge the Clyde as we cross and notice we seem a little higher than I am used too... Not too far from threshold I am So so happy to feel the thrust of power as the engine whine back to life and the plane ascends for a go-around! Spot on! Only my second ever...

GLA clearly visible as we bumpily make a turn into final approach

River Clyde first time just prior to go-around

The flight deck is instantly on explaining an aircraft on the runway (I’m dubious!). He announces 10 minutes to land and apologises for any more delay.

I’m delighted. It gives us the most wonderful panoramic flight around the circumference of Glasgow on this perfect day. You can see down the Sea lochs to snow-covered Argyll where my house is, and where by dad is probably serving breakfast to the residents. The view of the Clyde is spot on and then we are once again on final approach. This time we land faultlessly.

Our exciting go-around

Perfect view of Clyde snaking off through the centre of Glasgow

Those FA’s smile us off the plane and the Glasgow papers are there as we disembark. GLA is looking not too bad – quite fresh but very quiet. The luggage takes not ten minutes to arrive before we hop onto the Cityflyer into Glasgow, and by fluke connect with 30 seconds to spare onto the M9 Citylink up to Aberdeen. I sleep the entire way, briefly raising my head as we zoom past DND.

Landing safely at GLA

OG disembarking prior to return trip

Conclusions

BA rose to the challenge once again on this route. Truly it is the reigning Queen on the mainline LHR-SCOTLAND run. Reasonable prices, superb and professional FA’s (despite the ongoing tumultuous strike actions by those swines at Unite) and really an exceptional service and breakfast. It was the most delightful start to the day and the perfect end to this fleeting London visit.

LHR - 10/10
BA - 10/10
GLA - 8/10

I genuinely hope you have enjoyed this report and found it informative and fair. Any comments, questions or adoring praise for Macallan you might have are all very welcome.

I currently have two TR’s in a holding stack for publishing; one with IT and the other QR. I’ll hopefully get round to them in the next month or so. I would also just like to thank Mr Nicholas Young who kindly helped me to get the photos online...

Young man, your trip report was one of the best I ever read on these pages.
I enjoyed the both the information and the photos and I loved your writing skills especially your sense of humour
( a la Sean Connery I presume). Please entertain us with more trip reports of that caliber.
Coming from an ignorant sod in Athens what the hell is a Macallan?

Hey lukeyboy95 a great first TR mate! Love the pics of London in b/w. Definitely make London look much better and love the rush hour pic taken on the bridge. DND looks like a very small and intimate airport, must be great to fly out of.

I'm surprised that the member of BAA told you to delete the pics as I've never had a problem when taking pics in any of the terminals at LHR. Keep up the good work and look forward to more TR's.

That's the A318, without doubt. So aside from just registration, maybe some planespotting would be good

I must admit, DND looks cute, and flying the Dornier 328 is fun. I actually found this the most comfortable prop I flew so far (I compare Q400/F50/ATR72/An12). A bit small in size then the ones I got on before, but more quiet inside. Interior on the Cirrus example I got was in a better shape though.
Actually it's such a shame that Scot AW (Suckling) stopped flying to AMS. I used to see G-BWWT a lot at my home airport, serving the SOU route (now taken by FlyBE), and even before that they send the Dornier 228. How nice would that have been!!
Good to see BA still serving that breakfast on the Scotland runs. You won't get it on their European network in Y. Just a sandwich if you're lucky, and otherwise a tiny bag with pretzels. BA is ok though, they offer good pricing on most routes nowadays.

great first report with many high-quality pictures - I also enjoyed your writing style!

Quoting lukeyboy95 (Thread starter):And welcome to my first ever trip report on airliners.net. I have long followed the Trip Report section – it’s a thorough and interesting incite to the varying world of aviation out there.

Welcome to the writers!

Quoting lukeyboy95 (Thread starter):It has taken so long to finally get my arse in gear to do this – various commitments and hangovers have come about, not to mention I get pretty baffled by the picture embedding and posting method on this site.

Quoting lukeyboy95 (Thread starter):She distributes cheese and ham sandwiches. I am a little disappointed that she has run out of them by the time she gets to me and I am banished to a world of “just cheese I’m afraid”. I take a gin and tonic with extra ice with this. It’s really the only drink for flying...

The catering looks quite good.

Quoting lukeyboy95 (Thread starter):It’s a little convoluted; this is Air France’s..... Cityjet.... Operated by Scot Airways. A funny little arrangement. It is nice and unique to fly with them.

I'm impressed by the service on Cityjet, but they should really get a new livery.

Quoting lukeyboy95 (Thread starter):Once finished I pinged the call-bell. Within about 30 seconds the pretty blonde FA who wore a very attractive shawl was beaming down at me.
I put on my sweetest smile “if there are any spare breakfasts – I would love one!”
“’I’ll go and check sir”. She offers my friend one too who hesitates.
With humour she says “Come on sir! We’ll be landing soon....!”

I'm absolutey amazed by the fact that BA serves a hot breakfast on that domestic sector! And very nice to hear how kind the FA was.

Quoting lukeyboy95 (Thread starter):I currently have two TR’s in a holding stack for publishing; one with IT and the other QR.

Hi Gerard.
I am glad you enjoyed the b/w. I know alot of people don't like it but for me it gives a different feel to the pictures.

Quoting ODAFZ (Reply 6):Young man, your trip report was one of the best I ever read on these pages.
I enjoyed the both the information and the photos and I loved your writing skills especially your sense of humour

Mr Christian,
So glad you enjoyed this TR. I have a good laugh at most things; along the lines of if I didn't laugh, I would cry!

Quoting ODAFZ (Reply 6):Coming from an ignorant sod in Athens what the hell is a Macallan?

What a shame... its a company with an interesting history and surprising longevity

Quoting airbuseric (Reply 8):Good to see BA still serving that breakfast on the Scotland runs.

Its the best... I saw they fobbed off MAN passengers with a ciabatta so its nice we still get this. It is a good little selling point. Its neither a Full English nor a Full Scottish breakfast - some Stornoway Black pudding might sway it but not everyone likes this...

Very nice trip report and I have to say that the LONDON-SCOTLAND services are amazing.

I am yet to try the breakfast service but I have twice flown the last LHR-EDI last summer and I was impressed by the food offering. We got a very nice Salmon Salad and a sticky toffee plus the usual beverage service.

I have however flown BA on the first VIE-LHR and the breakfast was just a ham brioche and the last BRU-LHR and the service was only bird seeds and drinks. So why is BA keeping that high standard on domestic while cutting service on other European flights?

Oh - I realised some of you like to see the magazines, and boarding cards it would appear. Here are the two from the flight. Oh and a safety card accidentally fell in my bag too... As you can see it is an Air France one for the Cityjet flight...

Past tense I'm afraid Sandeep... I was there in the summer for a little under three wonderful months and traveled all about. Do you have roots to a particular part? Just so I don't put my foot in it and moan about it during the write-up!

Quoting AIR MALTA (Reply 11):So why is BA keeping that high standard on domestic while cutting service on other European flights?

It is a really interesting question. Its never been a massive profit making sector for BA I don't think - but perhaps it is about creating the loyalty to North of the border customers - and especially encouraging a connection through LHR due to high quality domestic legs. After all no other BA services exist so there is a greater incentive to enhance this service.

Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 12):what a real interesting story, great style, well done and also nice pictures from London and you´re flights.

Thanks Markus!

Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 12):I´ve done the Scot D328 also twice last year between Jersey and Guernsey, a nice experience.

I must have read that!

Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 12):And some BA on the LHR to Scotland route is also scheduled during the summer months.

superb - into GLA or EDI? Are you passing through for aviation reasons or doing a little siteseeing? I can recommend some places if you have time in the country.

Quoting DunaA320 (Reply 14):Congrats on your first Trip report! I really enjoyed reading it and I like your write-up style. Great sense of humour you have too.

Great report - a witty and entertaining style of writing (although sometimes I think you try a little too hard to be witty, if you catch my drift). Some of those pictures, especially the London ones in black and white are quite simply stunning.

You gotta love small airports, things just work there and are very relaxed.

Quoting lukeyboy95 (Reply 17):Haha - well noticed. A sale item for this poor student! JW is great stuff, normally served by beautiful people. I'm probably not their ideal clientèle but I can't get enough of it.

Quoting lukeyboy95 (Thread starter):Meanwhile Cruella makes her second drinks round. A little disappointed to find no more gin so I swap onto Skyy Vodka. I make a futile attempt to thaw this iceberg in a dress with a little query about Meredith Suckling. She answers curtly enough but it doesn’t go much further than that. She advises me on the best place to sit for the descent and informs me that after this run, she is off today. I wonder what recreational activities she’ll do to bring that hard earned smile across her face. Who knows?

A laugh out loud moment (the Deborah Meaden comment also got me grinning) in a Trip Report! Love it

I'm sure you know it, but you write very well - please do more reports, love your work

Dear Luke,
Thank you for your thoughtful answer, I could have googled Macallan, but you spoke so passionately , and i wanted with your own words to convey that passion. I am looking forward to drink a Macallan.BTW, I am rather a light Jameson and southern confort drinker
Happy Easter.
NB Christian or Chris is perfect for me ( no need for the Mr.)

Even though i do not fly BA as much as i should, i still consider them to be one of the best out there. You can prefer SQ, CX, EK or whatever, but BA is for the sure the queen of the skies (in the airline world)!

Hey Luke, top class. What an incredible first report! I absolutely loved it. You do realize there's no going back now, right?

Dundee to London City is an interesting little route. I'd been to Inverness airport "north of the border" before and thought that was pretty wild and amazing, but Dundee (of which I know only of a football club, and type of cake - but come to think of it, that's probably more than I know of most other places I hadn't been to!) looks equally wild. Well, at least the airport does anyway. And the little Dornier 328 looks like a plane to fly at least once.

Thanks for keeping us more than adequately lubricated with this lucid and very funny report. Can't wait to see you go international.

I try to read all the TR's posted here but rarely comment on them, this is an exception. This is a fantastic report and I was quite taken with the narrative as well as the photos; well done sir!!!! After reading this I feel as if I should update my passport because I was with you every step of the way, it was so realistic!! Thanks much for the experience of your trip, absolutely brilliant!!!!

Hello everyone. Just enjoying my Easter break and am very happy to see some more comments!

Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 22):Both together, doing BE STR-BHX-EDI, the last leg on the E95 and retour EDI-LHR-STR on BA,
with some four hours in EDI, never been there before, scheduled for the 8th of July.

What a cool route that is! FlyingFinn I see is also EDI bound in a week or so. Four hours isn't a horrible amount of time to be there at all... I'm no expert, but I'd say if it is a good day, head up the (slightly touristy) Royal Mile, visit the castle if you have spare time. If it is a good panoramic your looking for then scale Arthur's seat... its an 45 minute climb and you'll get an awesome view of the lay of Edinburgh. The third option would be to have a wonder down Princess Street, pop into Harvey Nichols and get a good sandwich and then go and eat it in Princess Gardens. If it is a good day, this can be the perfect way to experience Edinburgh and relax twixt flights. Scottish Parliament is free, but it doesn't make me feel to proud, and to me doesn't really properly represent Scotland. I dont recommend!

Quoting NZ107 (Reply 23):Good to see you successfully posted this TR! Great job too! Nice pics.

Cheers Nicholas...

Quoting NZ107 (Reply 23):The service sounds excellent if they can provide 3 drink services in 1.5 hours! They must want you guys to get drunk or something!

Less infact... maybe her sultry behaviour was all part of a flirting act... Most people didn't take anything, but it all being a bit of a novelty I decided to make good use of the services! I never seem to see a cheeky beer infront of you on your EK services... are you being sensible ?

Aaah, the Sultan of Trip Reports himself, Mr Roni! Thank you very much...

Quoting ronerone (Reply 27):but BA is for the sure the queen of the skies (in the airline world)!

Yes, I absolutely think she's still 'got it'. Admittedly some of the younger kids on the block answer back a little, but there is a grace and finess about BA - so far its unshrugable. I am slightly hypocritcal though, for example I only ever seem to take BA domesticly where they are super, but if I was flying to Asia or such like, I would never take BA. For some simple reasons - I have no need to pay for the privilage of flying direct, and there is something so enticing about these new kids on the block.

Quoting airpearl (Reply 28): What an incredible first report! I absolutely loved it. You do realize there's no going back now, right?

Thanks Airpearl... Yes, alas I feel there will be no going back! Which is fine, but I have a very limited output whilst I am still a poor student! Hopefully that will all change...

Quoting airpearl (Reply 28): I'd been to Inverness airport "north of the border" before and thought that was pretty wild and amazing, but Dundee (of which I know only of a football club, and type of cake - but come to think of it, that's probably more than I know of most other places I hadn't been to!) looks equally wild.

Great stuff! Who would have known that you'de been that far north. INV is one that I want to get too... FR used to fly there. I must say I think there is some superb flying to be done in Scotland. For example, there is the Beach landing in Barra, the world's shortest flight up in Orkney and various good routes around the Western Isles. I must take some of these to report back to the forum! Just curous, how did you find yourself up in Inverness?

Quoting airpearl (Reply 28):Nice to see BA staying with the British breakfast tradition on domestic flights

Its the only thing that keeps the Scots using BA! I've had the bird seed before though and it was an equally brilliant flight!

Quoting sasd209 (Reply 29):I try to read all the TR's posted here but rarely comment on them, this is an exception. This is a fantastic report and I was quite taken with the narrative as well as the photos; well done sir!

Well then, I am positively honoured! Its really helpful for me to see who they people are that read these things...

Quoting sasd209 (Reply 29):I was with you every step of the way, it was so realistic

Good - thats the ethos of Trip Reports - you should feel like your with the person from the start of their journey to the very end!

Quoting lukeyboy95 (Reply 30):I must say I think there is some superb flying to be done in Scotland. For example, there is the Beach landing in Barra, the world's shortest flight up in Orkney and various good routes around the Western Isles. I must take some of these to report back to the forum! Just curous, how did you find yourself up in Inverness?

Totally agree... those are really unique little hops, especially the beach landing! INV? Haha... well, I was mad enough to try to ski the Cairngorms. There was snow that year; but there was probably slightly more gravel, a lot of heather, and some very crazy Scottish company. An unforgettable experience... I'm not sure I'd call it skiing but I had a great time!

Quoting ViasaMSY (Reply 31):Great TR mate. One of the best I have read!
G&T, Vodka, and Whisky...OUCH....what a painful hangover.

Thanks ViasaMSY! - You forgot the Cider I had on the plane too... no hangover thankfully, just the need for a mid-afternoon snooze!

Quoting airpearl (Reply 32):INV? Haha... well, I was mad enough to try to ski the Cairngorms. There was snow that year; but there was probably slightly more gravel, a lot of heather, and some very crazy Scottish company. An unforgettable experience... I'm not sure I'd call it skiing but I had a great time!

Good stuff - it seems like it left a good impression. We've had superb snow this year thankfully. Actually I was over Inverness way yesterday and at sunset saw the most beautiful Flybe E-195 glide alongside us on the motorway. I must book a ticket into INV in the future.